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The Understudy Subs for Legendary F1 Driver

Updated Aug. 12, 2009 5:05 a.m. ET

With legendary Formula One driver Michael Schumacher nixing his Ferrari comeback because of injuries, the Scuderia team is turning to…a test driver? Ferrari announced Tuesday that Luca Badoer, 38, will take Mr. Schumacher's spot this month in the European Grand Prix. The last time Mr. Badoer raced F1 was in 1999, and his greatest—or worst—career distinction is his record as the driver with the most race starts without ever scoring a point. A Ferrari official says the choice was "logical" because Mr. Badoer knows the Ferrari car "perfectly."